Rudolph Bernhard

Rudolph Bernhard was a Christian writer who originally went by the name Jacob Levi of Prague, indicating his roots as a rabbi. A significant event in his life was his baptism, which took place in Bern in 1694. This marked a turning point in his religious affiliation and likely influenced his subsequent writings. As a Christian writer, Bernhard was involved in producing works that reflected his new faith.

One of Bernhard's notable publications was the letter Sendschreiben: Geschrieben an die so genannten Juden, which he released in 1705. The content of this letter suggests that it was intended for proselytizing purposes, aiming to reach out to the Jewish community. At the time of his death, Bernhard left behind a manuscript of a translation into Hebrew of parts of the New Testament, specifically the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke up to chapter 16:31. This unfinished work indicates his ongoing engagement with biblical texts and his desire to make them accessible in Hebrew.